You Just Fired Someone — Now What About Your Locks?
We get this call at least three or four times a week. A business owner on Lankershim Boulevard or over near the NoHo Arts District just terminated an employee, and now they’re sitting in their office thinking: this person still has a key.
That’s a bad feeling. And it should be — because it’s a real security risk. The good news is a commercial lock change in North Hollywood is faster and more affordable than most people expect. Let’s get into the real numbers.
Average Cost Range for Commercial Lock Changes
For a typical North Hollywood business — a retail shop on Magnolia, a studio space off Camarillo Street, a small office near Vineland and Oxnard — here’s what you’re realistically looking at:
- Single commercial lock change: $75–$150 per lock
- Rekeying instead of full replacement: $40–$80 per lock
- High-security lock upgrade (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock): $150–$300 per lock
- Full building rekey (5–10 doors): $250–$600 total
- After-hours or emergency service: Add $50–$100 to the job
These prices reflect actual jobs we’ve completed in the North Hollywood area. Your total depends on a few key factors, which we’ll break down next.
What Affects the Price
Number of Doors
Pretty straightforward. A single office suite on Burbank Boulevard with two entry points costs a lot less than a warehouse complex off Tujunga Avenue with eight access doors and a loading bay.
Lock Type and Brand
Standard commercial-grade locks (Schlage B-series, Kwikset SmartKey commercial) are on the lower end. If you want high-security cylinders with restricted keyways — meaning no one can duplicate your keys at a hardware store — that bumps the price up. Worth it for most businesses, honestly.
Rekey vs. Full Replacement
This is the big one. If your existing hardware is in good shape, rekeying changes the internal pins so old keys stop working. New keys get cut, problem solved. It’s cheaper and faster. But if your locks are worn out, outdated, or you want to upgrade to something more secure, a full lock change is the move.
Time of Day
We’re a 24/7 operation, so we’ll come out at 2 AM if that’s when you need us. But after-hours work does carry a small premium. If it’s not an emergency, scheduling during business hours saves you a bit.
Master Key Systems
If you want all new locks keyed to a single master key — so you can access every door but your employees each get limited keys — that requires extra planning and adds modestly to the cost. For businesses with multiple employees and departments, it’s usually the smart play.
The Step-by-Step Process
Here’s exactly what happens when you call us for a commercial lock change in North Hollywood:
1. You call, we talk it through. We’ll ask how many doors, what kind of locks you currently have, and whether you want to rekey or fully replace. Most of the time we can give you a ballpark right on the phone.
2. A technician arrives. For urgent situations — like the employee-just-got-fired scenario — we typically have someone at your location within 20–30 minutes anywhere in North Hollywood, from the Victory Boulevard corridor to the edges near Valley Village.
3. We assess the existing hardware. Our tech checks each lock’s condition, brand, and security level. Then we confirm the best approach with you — rekey, replace, or upgrade — and give you a firm price before any work starts.
4. The work gets done. A standard rekey takes about 10–15 minutes per lock. A full lock swap runs 20–30 minutes per door. For a typical office with three to five doors, you’re looking at about an hour total.
5. You get new keys and a walkthrough. We test every lock, hand over your new key sets, and make sure everything works perfectly. If we set up a master key system, we’ll explain exactly which keys open which doors.
Rekey or Replace — Which One Do You Actually Need?
Rekey if: Your locks are less than 5 years old, hardware is solid, and you just need old keys to stop working. This handles the fired-employee situation perfectly in most cases.
Full replacement if: Locks are worn, damaged, or low-security. If you’re running a business on Chandler Boulevard with the same basic locks from 2008, now’s the time to upgrade anyway.
Consider access control if: You’re tired of dealing with physical keys entirely. Electronic systems let you revoke access with a click — no locksmith visit needed next time someone leaves. We do as well, and for businesses with regular staff turnover, it pays for itself fast.
Why Speed Matters After a Termination
We’ve seen it go wrong. A restaurant near Laurel Canyon had a disgruntled ex-employee come back over a weekend and clear out supplies. A salon on Riverside Drive had someone return after hours and cause property damage. These aren’t scare tactics — they’re real situations North Hollywood business owners have dealt with.
Getting your locks changed the same day you let someone go isn’t paranoia. It’s basic business security.
Get It Handled Today
If you just had a staffing change and need your locks dealt with, we can usually be there within the hour. Our team handles commercial lock change in North Hollywood every single day — quick, clean, fairly priced. Check out our full range of North Hollywood locksmith services or just give us a call at (818) 398-9391 and we’ll get you sorted out.
